Jeffery Beckham Jr.

Jeffery Beckham Jr. is the CEO of Chicago Scholars and the Co-CEO of REACH Pathways, an award-winning ed-tech platform reimagining career exploration for first-generation and low-income students. Under his leadership, Chicago Scholars has supported over 6,000 students on their journeys to and through college, generating more than $700 million in merit aid since 2007.

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A 2024 Chicago Innovation Award winner and 2024 Master of Scale fellow Jeffery stands at the intersection of education, technology, and community empowerment. His work through REACH Pathways earned national recognition, including a first-place win at the 2023 SXSW Global Pitch Competition.

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An accomplished acrylic painter, Jeffery uses his artistry as a platform for storytelling and justice, focusing on identity, resilience, and hope. His art has garnered accolades, including the 2024 Chicago Artist Award from Changing Worlds and recognition as a 2022 Black Creativity Innovator by the Museum of Science and Industry.

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Jeffery’s voice and vision have been sought by organizations like McKinsey & Co., Facebook, and the Shriver Center, and he’s been featured on ABC, CBS, FOX-32, WGN, WBEZ, Yahoo Finance and more. A proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. (Delta Omega, '02), Jeffery has also served on the Board of Directors for Building Better Futures, The 100 Black Men of Chicago, and many other organizations. Jeffery is a member of the Economic Club of Chicago, and is an alumnus of the Obama Leaders USA Fellowship (2025), Leadership Greater Chicago (2023), The Impact Leadership Development Program (2018) and New Leaders Council (2016).

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Rooted in Chicago’s Bronzeville community and guided by his faith at New Faith Baptist Church, Jeffery continues to create and lead with purpose—fusing vision, voice, and values to transform systems and lives.